48 



woods in the west half of this town, and, in fact, clear to Cranberry 

 lake are on fire. The New York Central Railroad started seven 

 fires on one run last week from Carthage to Oswegatchie. This fire 

 is burning from the line of the railroad and Bear lake clear through 

 the woods. I have had out nearly seventy men at times. 



Mr. Emery P. Gale, Piercefield, St. Lawrence county. Have you 

 any funds on hand to pay these men? There should be some way 

 provided to pay men for fighting fire. These poor men have to live 

 by day labor and it is hard to make them wait until the following 

 winter for their money. 



Mr. Arthur Flanders, Hopkinton, St. Lawrence county. I came 

 out of the woods on Friday night (May 3Oth) for the first time to 

 get a day off since May 8th. I wish you would come here if you 

 can as there are about 4,000 acres burned over, mostly lumbered land. 

 There is very little timber land burned. When you telephoned me 

 from South Colton to meet you on Sunday I did not get the word 

 until afternoon. I was seven miles away in the woods fighting fire, 

 and was short of help. Must I get the number of acres and the 

 timber land burned over? If so, it will take me a month to do it. 

 Will report again as soon as I feel it is safe to call off all the men. 



Mr. William W. Cheney, Caldwell, Warren county. The grade 

 from Lake George south to near the point of this fire is very heavy. 

 There is also quite a heavy grade from the south to near this same 

 point, and when trains pass up these grades a large number of live 

 coals are thrown out from the smokestacks of the engines. 



Mr. Miles Frost, Thurman, Warren county. I would have writ- 

 ten you before now, but since the death of our firewarden, Mr. W. J. 

 Fuller, I have been trying to ascertain whom we could appoint in 

 his place. I think we had better appoint one Henry Combs. He is 

 a young man and has always lived here. I think it is best for me 

 to see the deputy wardens in Districts Nos. 2 and 3 this spring and 

 have a talk with them, as they are young men and I would like to 

 consult with them. The firebugs you speak of are now in jail. A 

 boy caught them setting a fire, and there was a bill found against 

 both of them, the leader on two indictments one for shooting at the 

 boy who caught him and the other for setting a fire. These fellows 

 have set a great many fires in our town. 



Mr. E. H. Sturtevant, Fort Ann, Washington county. Mr. 

 Charles DeGolyer, a justice of the peace, was called on by the owner 

 of Lot 24 at i o'clock Wednesday night. He got the men out early 

 the next morning and did a good job ; for the people were frightened 

 almost out of their wits on account of the drought, heat, smoke and 

 desperate fires. These men say that they had rather lose their pay 



